Artist "Mylai" Kanagaraj.

Kanagaraj Kathirvel — known in Chennai's art circles as Artist Mylai Kanagaraj — has loved drawing since childhood. That early interest grew into a career that has taken him from corporate graphic design studios to formal Fine Arts training, and finally into the classroom as a teacher.

He spent ten years as a professional graphic designer, working on brand identity, print and digital media for clients in India and abroad. Alongside his career, he pursued formal training in Fine Arts, deepening his skills in traditional Indian painting, drawing and sculpture.

For the last five years he has taught full-time, first in private studios and then through the academy he founded in 2021 — Mylai School of Arts. Today he has personally trained more than 250 students and produced over 350 original artworks.

His teaching approach is simple: build the fundamentals first, be patient with every student, and always respect the traditions the work is built on.